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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "GEORGE PETERS" <georgepeters2@msn.com>
Reply-To: georgepeters1@myway.com
Date: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 22:09:35 +0000
Subject: CAN YOU BE PART OF THIS?

Dear Sir,
I am georgepeters, the Foreign Exchange manager of a
commercial Bank in Lagos, Nigeria. It is with utmost
respect and regards that I seek your cooperation
towards this transaction that demands honesty and
confidentiality.
In my department I discovered an abandoned sum of
US$15m (Fifteen Million United States Dollars Only) in
an account that belong to one of our foreign customers
Mr. Arthur Smith, who died in the illfated plane crash
of 31 October 1999 [with Egyptian Airline 990] with
other passengers aboard.
Since we got information about his death, we have been
expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his
money because we cannot release it unless somebody
applies for it as next of kin or relation to the
deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines.
It is therefore upon this discovery that I decided to
make this proposal to you so as to release the money
to you as next of kin/beneficiary to the deceased for
safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is
coming for it and I don't want this money to go into
the bank treasury as unclaimed Bill.
The banking Law and Guidelines here stipulates that if
such money remains unclaimed after five years, the
money will be forfeited into the bank treasury as
unclaimed fund.
I agree that 25% of this money will be for you for
your assistance, in respect to the provision of a
foreign account, 5% for incidental expenses
after which I shall visit yourcountry for disbursement according to the
agreed
percentages indicated.
Therefore to enable the immediately transfer of this
fund into your account, you must apply first to the
bank and send your details as follows;
1. Your full Names and address

2. Your private Telephone and fax numbers
I will not fail to bring to your notice that there is
no problem associated with this transaction as those
of us that are privy to it are all officials of the
bank. Note that it would take Ten(10) working days
for the transaction to be completed arangements will be made for it's
smooth
transfer into your account.
Trusting to hear from you immediately.
please reply to my exclusive mail georgepeters1@myway.com
Best regards.
GEORGE PETERS


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